Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2

The ATH-CKS50TW2 Darth Vader edition has the best battery life we've ever tested at 25 hours per charge, plus a clever magnetic auto-off feature. But the sound quality sits at the 8th percentile, which is rough for a $129 pair of earbuds. Buy these for the Star Wars novelty and battery endurance, not for the music.

Let's start with the battery, because it's the reason this product exists. 25 hours per charge on the buds, 65 in the case, and a 5 minute quick charge for 90 minutes of playback. That's top of the charts in our database, and it's not close. The magnetic auto-off feature is the party trick: snap the two buds together and they shut down, no case needed. For travel, this is a genuine game changer if you're the type who forgets to charge things.

ANC is also a standout at the 93rd percentile. Hybrid noise cancelling with a transparency mode that owners say works well. The 9mm dynamic drivers are tuned for bass, which fits the Vader theme, but the overall sound signature is where things fall apart. Music scores 32/100 in our testing, and the 8th percentile sound ranking tells the story. These are fine for podcasts, audiobooks, and YouTube, but if you want detail, separation, or anything approaching neutral tuning, look elsewhere. No LDAC support either, so you're capped at standard Bluetooth codecs.

Stack these against the Sony WF-1000XM6 and the gap is brutal. Sony's buds deliver top-tier sound and ANC for a similar price, and the XM6's audio quality is in a completely different league. The Technics EAH-AZ100 also outclasses the ATH-CKS50TW2 on sound, though the Audio-Technica wins on raw battery endurance. The Soundcore P31i and EarFun Air Pro 4+ are the budget alternatives, and honestly, both deliver better music performance for less money. What the Audio-Technica has that none of those do is the Darth Vader branding and the magnetic auto-off. If those matter to you, this is your only option. If they don't, you have better choices.

At $129 USD, these are priced like a mid-range pair of true wireless earbuds, but the audio performance doesn't match the sticker. You're paying a premium for the Star Wars branding and the battery tech. The CAD listing at 276 and MXN at 2,971 suggest regional pricing is all over the place, so shop carefully. If you can find these on sale, the battery and ANC combo starts to make more sense. At full price, you're essentially buying a collector's item that happens to play audio.

The ATH-CKS50TW2 Darth Vader edition lands with a 99th percentile battery score, and that's the headline here. We're talking 25 hours from the buds alone and 65 more from the case. A 5 minute charge gets you 90 minutes of playback. That's not just good, it's the absolute best right now for true wireless earbuds in our database. The magnetic auto-off trick means you can snap the buds together and they power down without the case, which is genuinely clever for pocket carry.

But here's the thing. Sound quality sits at the 8th percentile. That's one of the worst we've seen for music in this category. Owners seem split, plenty of folks are happy with podcasts and casual listening, but anyone expecting detailed, audiophile-grade audio from a $129 pair of Audio-Technica buds is going to be disappointed. The Darth Vader branding is doing a lot of heavy lifting here, and whether that's worth it depends entirely on how much you love the Dark Side.

Skip these if you care about music quality at all. The 8th percentile sound ranking and 32/100 music score mean these are genuinely bad for anyone who wants to enjoy their favorite albums. Also skip if you're on a budget, at $129 USD you're paying a Star Wars tax for audio performance that budget buds from Soundcore or EarFun beat easily. And if you have small ears, the bulky design and 73rd percentile comfort score suggest these might not fit well for long sessions.

The ATH-CKS50TW2 Darth Vader edition is a battery monster with a Star Wars skin. The 99th percentile battery life and 93rd percentile ANC are genuinely impressive, and the magnetic auto-off is a feature I wish every earbud had. But the 8th percentile sound quality is a dealbreaker for anyone who cares about music. Owners rate these 4.6 out of 5 stars, but that's heavily skewed by fans who love the design and the novelty. If you're a Star Wars collector who listens to podcasts and wants earbuds that never die, these are a fun buy. If you want good audio, spend your money elsewhere.